Report: Kaepernick expected to subpoena Trump, Pence

Colin Kaepernick’s collusion case against the NFL could soon make its way to the White House.

Kaepernick’s legal team is expected to seek federal subpoenas to get testimony from President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence among other officials, according to a Yahoo Sports! report. The purpose of the testimony would be to determine the Trump administration’s involvement with the NFL owners regarding Kaepernick’s free agency and player protests during the national anthem.

The subpoenas would come under the Federal Arbitration Act.

49ers LB Eli Harold, QB Colin Kaepernick and free S Eric Reid kneel in protest during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL game in 2016. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Several NFL owners revealed in depositions that Trump spoke with them about how to handle protests during the national anthem, the Wall Street Journal reported last week. Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross testified that Trump’s comments “changed the dialogue,” adding that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had also discussed the anthem with Trump.

“This is very winning, strong issue for me,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Trump told him during a phone call. “Tell everybody, you can’t win this one. This one lifts me.”

The NFL recently issued a new policy requiring players, coaches and personnel on the field to stand when the national anthem is played. The policy permits teams to choose to stay in the locker room during the national anthem, but calls for fines and punishment for any mode of disrespect.

“I think that’s good,” Trump said of the policy in an interview with ‘Fox & Friends.’ “I don’t think people should be staying in the locker rooms, but still I think it’s good. You have to stand proudly for the national anthem. Or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.”

Kaepernick, 30, first sat during the anthem in the 2016 season and then knelt. Eventually he was joined by some San Francisco 49ers teammates, including safety Eric Reid, and players on other teams followed suit.

Kaepernick, who led the 49ers to the Super Bowl after the 2012 season, was out of the NFL for all of 2017. Reid, 26, appeared in 13 games for San Francisco last season but is currently unsigned and has also filed a grievance against the NFL.